FR3032389A1 - ELECTRICAL HEATING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric heating device comprises a heating compartment for receiving heating module (s) and a first connection interface for connecting the heating modules to a source power source of the vehicle, each heating module being extended longitudinally by a free electrode end (66) adapted to be connected to said electrical source in the vicinity of said interface. The first connection interface has at least one receiving housing of a fastening means (64) secured to a heating module and comprising a detent element (84) with elastic deformation movable between a retracted position during the insertion of the fixing means in the first connection interface and a position deployed in said housing when the heating module (4) is in position in the heating compartment. Such a heating device is particularly suitable for being housed in a conduit of a ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to the field of ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle. It relates to additional heating devices intended to be mounted in a ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to an additional heating device comprising heating elements with electrical resistances, for example positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistors, which make it possible to produce heat rapidly in the vehicles, especially when wants to quickly warm up the cabin. Electric additional heating devices of this type are known for heating a flow of air passing through a duct of a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, in which a housing is suitable. to carry heating modules by heat diffusion under the effect of an electrical potential, said housing comprising a heating compartment for receiving at least one longitudinally extending heating module and a first connection interface extending transversely to the heating compartment. In the document FR 2895204, the first connection interface carries tabs which extend from the first interface to the heating modules, inside the heating compartment, to ensure electrical contact with the terminations formed by the free ends of the electrodes of the heating modules. It was found that the mounting of the heating modules in such devices was not the most practical and that it required a lot of space upstream of the heating compartment, ie between the heating module and the connection interface. in the area of contact of the electrodes and connectors, and downstream of the heating compartment where it is necessary to provide in practice elastic return means which tend to push the heating modules to the first connection interface 3032389 2 ensure electrical contact between the connectors and the free ends of the electrodes. However, these resilient return means, if they make it possible to ensure the proper insertion of the heating modules in the heating compartment, do not make it possible to ensure the correct positioning of the electrodes with respect to the connectors and therefore of the good functioning. of the heating device. The subject of the invention is an additional electrical heating device for heating a flow of air passing through in particular a duct of a ventilation, heating and / or air-conditioning installation of a motor vehicle, in which a housing is adapted to carry heating modules by diffusion of heat under the effect of an electric potential. The housing comprises at least one heating compartment for receiving at least one longitudinally extending heating module and a first connection interface which allows the connection of the at least one heating module to a source power source of the vehicle, each module heating being extended longitudinally by an electrode free end adapted to be connected to said electrical source in the vicinity of said first connection interface. According to the invention, the first connection interface has at least one receiving housing of a fastening means, secured to a heating module, said fastening means comprising a snap-fastening element with elastic deformation able to take a retracted position upon insertion of the free end of the electrode into the first connection interface and a deployed position in said housing when the heating module is in position relative to the first connection interface. Advantageously, the fixing means is attached to the free end of the electrode and the receiving housing of the fixing means opens into an insertion slot of this free end of the electrode in the first connection interface. According to one possible characteristic, it is advantageous for the housing to be hollowed out in the thickness of the first connection interface so that a wall of this interface forms a wall of the housing making it abut the clearance of the element. snap when it is in the deployed position in the housing. The additional electrical heating device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, alone or in combination: the fixing means is formed by a free end portion of an electrical connection terminal which is directly connected to the free end of an electrode; the first connection interface extends transversely to the heating compartment according to a series of characteristics specific to a particular embodiment of the invention in which the fixing means is carried by an electrical terminal, which is directly connected to the free end of an electrode, it can be provided that: the electrical connection terminal comprises a fixing part, such as a base, able to overlap the free end of the electrode, and a tongue forming a free end portion of the electrical connection terminal adapted to be inserted into an insertion slot of the first connection interface; the fixing part, such as a base, of the terminal is made integral with the free end of the electrode, for example by crimping, by clinching or gluing - the tongue has a section of rectangular shape, complementary to the rectangular shape of the section of the corresponding insertion slot 25 made in the first connection interface; the detent element is carried by the tongue in the form of an elastic deformation blade whose free end extends, in a rest position, projecting from the main plane defined by the tongue, the free end of the blade being positioned behind its end integral with the tongue, that is to say closer to the fixing portion, such as a base, of the terminal; - The electrical connection terminal passes through the first connection interface, the insertion slot made in the first interface for this purpose opening on both faces of the first interface perpendicular to the heating module. According to another characteristic of the invention, the housing comprises a heating compartment carrying the heating modules and two connection interfaces arranged at the longitudinal ends of said heating compartment, and the housing is formed of a single piece. The heating modules are inserted into the heating compartment via an access opening made in the second connection interface disposed opposite the first connection interface able to be traversed by at least one connection terminal and comprising the at least one housing for receiving said detent element. A particularly advantageous configuration is thus presented in which the insertion of the heating modules into the heating compartment and the insertion of the electrical connection terminals into the corresponding slots is done with a single translational movement.

The good insertion of the electrical terminal into the slot, which conditions the good connection of the heating modules to the vehicle's electrical source and therefore the proper operation of the heating device, is thus facilitated. The heating device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, alone or in combination: the electrical connection terminal comprises a fixing part, able to cooperate with the free end of the electrode, and a tab forming the free end portion of the terminal adapted to pass through the first connection interface in the insertion slot; The tab is adapted to pass through the first plate of the first connection interface in the insertion slot; the terminal comprises a base adapted to overlap the free end of the electrode; The tongue has a section of rectangular shape, complementary to the rectangular shape of the section of the corresponding insertion slot made in the first connection interface, the insertion slot being preferably made in the first plate; the free end of the tongue has at least one bevel, to form a pointed part at the end of the electrode and to facilitate the insertion of the terminal into the corresponding slot; the electrical connection terminal may comprise fins which extend, at the junction of the fixing portion and of the end portion of the terminal, and projecting perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, so as to form a stop of limit switch against the inner face of the first connection interface. According to a possible characteristic, the electrical connection terminal comprises a snap-fastening element with elastic deformation able to take a retracted position when the terminal is inserted into the slot and a position deployed in a housing made adjacent to said slot. when the terminal is in the connection position. According to particular features of an embodiment in which the housing comprises a second connection interface disposed at the longitudinal end of the housing opposite to the first connection interface 25 traversed by the connection terminal, the heating modules can extend longitudinally between the connection interfaces so that the distal end of the heating modules is arranged longitudinally substantially opposite this second connection interface. It should be noted that according to the invention, the method of connection by insertion of the terminals in the first connection interface makes it possible to dispense with the springs usually placed at the bottom of the heating compartment opposite the first connection interface. to press the heating modules against the 5 connection tabs. Here, the depression of the connection terminals, and their possible locking in position by snap-in elements carried directly by the terminals, is sufficient, so that a longitudinal space saving is achieved, which is advantageously used according to the invention to enlarge the longitudinal dimension of the heating modules and the efficiency of the heating device. According to another characteristic of the invention, the housing comprises a heating compartment carrying heating modules and two connection interfaces arranged at the longitudinal ends of said heating compartment, said housing being formed of a single piece. The heating modules 15 are inserted into the heating compartment by an access made in the second connection interface, arranged opposite the first connection interface adapted to be traversed by at least one connection terminal. A particularly advantageous configuration is thus presented in which the insertion of the heating modules into the heating compartment 20 and the insertion of the electrical connection terminals into the corresponding slots is done with a single translational movement. The proper insertion of the electrical terminal in the slot, which conditions the good connection of the heating modules to the vehicle's electrical source and therefore the proper operation of the heating device, is thus facilitated.

The housing of the electric airflow heater according to the invention may furthermore comprise one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: the at least one heating module extends, when it is disposed in the heating compartment in a direction of general extension between a first end and a second end; The general extension direction of said at least one heating module is substantially longitudinal; the heating compartment extends in a direction of general extension between a first and a second end; The general extension direction of the heating compartment is substantially longitudinal; - The heating compartment for receiving the heating block has substantially the shape of a parallelepiped; at least part of at least one side of the heating compartment is hollowed out or perforated; the heating compartment comprises two parallel lateral sides extending in the general direction of extension of the heating compartment and two parallel main sides extending in the general direction of extension of the heating compartment; These two lateral sides are materialized by walls; the two lateral sides of the heating compartment are substantially facing one another; - The two main sides of the heating compartment are substantially facing one another; The lateral sides extend substantially perpendicularly to the main sides; each of the main sides comprises at least one transverse upright connecting said lateral sides; - Each of the main sides comprises at least two transverse posts 25 spaced from each other and preferably parallel; Each of the ends of a transverse upright is connected to a lateral side of the heating compartment; the connection interfaces are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the heating compartment, these opposite ends preferably being said first and said second end between which said heating compartment extends in the direction of general extension; the heating modules comprise at least one element capable of producing heat and at least one associated element able to exchange heat with the flow of air passing through the heating block; Said at least one element capable of producing heat is a resistive element; said at least one element capable of producing heat is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type resistive element; said at least one heat generating element is a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistive element disposed in or on a support such as a bar; said at least one element capable of producing heat is a resistive element placed between two electrodes; said at least one associated element which is capable of exchanging heat is a radiant element or a heat sink; Said at least one heat-exchangeable associated element is at least one fin traversed by at least one element capable of producing heat, or interleaves such as pleated or corrugated metal ribbons arranged between elements capable of producing heat. produce heat; said at least one heat generating element is disposed between two heat exchangeable members; The at least one heating module comprises an element capable of producing heat disposed between two elements able to exchange heat; the at least one heating module comprises two elements capable of producing heat and three elements capable of exchanging heat, a heat exchangeable element being disposed between two elements capable of producing heat, each of these elements being able to produce heat; heat generating elements being disposed between the central heat exchangeable element and an external heat exchangeable element. According to a possible characteristic, at least one lateral side of the heating compartment may comprise at least one resiliently deformed snap-on finger allowing the retention of a respective heating module. This detent finger is preferably disposed near the second connection interface. According to one possible characteristic, the heating compartment comprises at least one intermediate wall extending inside the housing in which at least one heating module can be installed. The housing of the electric airflow heating device according to the invention may furthermore comprise one or more of the following characteristics, alone or in combination, in relation to said intermediate wall: said at least one intermediate wall is arranged substantially parallel to said lateral sides of the heating compartment, and between said lateral sides extending in the general extension direction of the heating compartment; said at least one intermediate wall extends in a direction of general extension between a first end and a second end; Said at least one intermediate wall is substantially longitudinal; said at least one intermediate wall extends over the entire length of the heating compartment, from one connection interface to the other; Said at least one intermediate wall comprises at least one orifice; said at least one intermediate wall is punched; at least a portion of said at least one intermediate wall has the properties of an elastic return blade; Said at least one intermediate wall makes it possible to subdivide the main housing of the heating compartment into two sub-parts, each of which makes it possible to receive at least one heating module; a first sub-part, or first housing, is delimited by an inner face of a lateral side of the heating compartment and the intermediate wall and a second sub-part, or second housing, is delimited by an internal face of the lateral side opposite and the intermediate wall; - The intermediate wall is off-center to be closer to one of said lateral sides of the heating compartment, the means for creating a pressure drop is integral with this side; The intermediate wall comprises at least one detent finger; the first housing is sized to receive a heating module comprising an element capable of producing heat disposed between two elements able to exchange heat; - The second housing is sized to receive a heating module 20 having two elements capable of producing heat and three elements capable of exchanging heat. According to a possible characteristic, the housing of an electric heating device according to the invention comprises at least one means for creating a pressure drop of the air flow circulating in the location in which said housing 25 is installed.

The creation of this pressure drop advantageously makes it possible to accentuate the heat exchange between the electric heating device and the said air flow. This means for creating a pressure drop may have, in particular but not exclusively, the shape of a blade, a bar, a profile, a plate. The invention also relates to a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation comprising a heating device as just presented. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the description and the drawings, of which: FIG. 1 is a side view of an additional heating device that can be accommodated according to FIG. invention across an air flow duct of a set of heating-ventilation and air conditioning; - Figure 2 is a perspective view, rear three-quarters of the device 15 of Figure 1, wherein the heating modules have been removed to make particularly visible the constituent walls of the heating compartment of these heating modules; FIG. 3 is a perspective view, three quarter front, of the device of FIG. 1, making the free ends of electrical terminals opening out through a first connection interface particularly visible; FIG. 4 is a perspective view, three quarter rear view, of the heating modules able to be housed in the heating compartment of the heating device according to the invention, provided respectively with electrical terminals, each attached to an electrode tongue extending protruding the heating modules; FIG. 5 is a view of the elements illustrated in FIG. 4, this time in perspective of three quarter front; - Figure 6 is a view, in the same perspective as that of Figure 5, a heating module and the associated electrical terminal in the mounted position and a heating module and the associated electrical terminal in disassembled position; FIG. 7 is a perspective representation of an electrical terminal according to the same perspective as that of FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the first connection interface illustrated in FIG. 3, without the electrical terminals; and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an electrical terminal and the first connection interface in the assembled position illustrated in FIG. 3. In the description which follows, reference will be made to an orientation based on the Longitudinal axes. , Vertical and transversal as they are defined arbitrarily by the trihedron L, V, T shown in Figures 1 to 4. The choice of 15 names of these axes is not limiting the orientation that can take the device in its application to a motor vehicle, and the use of terms such as "superior" and "lower" is chosen according to the orientation in the illustration accompanying this description without it being any more limiting. FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an additional heating device 20 according to the invention, which is capable of being housed across an air circulation duct of a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation, so as to convert the electrical energy taken from the vehicle into heat energy returned to the air passing through said ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning system. The installation is not shown here, but it will be understood that a main duct of this installation conventionally comprises an opening made in the wall for the insertion of the additional heating device. The additional heating device 2 according to the invention comprises a housing and heating modules 4 capable of transforming an electric current into thermal energy. We can refer to the patent document FR2895204 for the more detailed description of the heating modules and an embodiment with the presence of heat sinks enclosed by electrodes on either side of one or more stones with positive temperature coefficient (effect 5 CTP). According to the invention, the housing of the additional heating device 2 is formed by a one-piece housing comprising a heating compartment 6 for receiving the heating modules 4, a first connection interface 8 disposed at a proximal end 10 of the heating compartment 6 for the connection of the device to an electrical network of the vehicle and the supply of the heating modules 4, a second interface 12, in particular mechanical fixing, which is disposed at the distal end 14 of the heating compartment 6 opposite to the proximal end carrying the first connection interface 8 and which is adapted to cooperate with a duct wall of the ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning, and a bar 16 which extends along the heating compartment 6 between the two connection interfaces 8, 12. The additional heating device 2 is made of a plastic material, for example polypropylene or polyamide, filled with fiberglass. It is considered that the heating compartment 6 and the two connection interfaces 8, 12 are monoblock as soon as their separation destroys the heating compartment 6 or one and / or the other of the interfaces 8, 12. It will be understood that the heating compartment 6 and the two interfaces 8, 12 come from a single molding operation. However, the heating compartment 6 and the connection interfaces 8, 12 could be made independently of one another and subsequently secured, without departing from the context of the invention. The heating compartment 6 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose two main faces are perforated to allow diffusion in the duct of the heat released by the heating modules 4 housed inside the heating compartment 6. The uprights 18, arranged at intervals, 3032389 14 regular or not, each other, extend vertically over the entire height of these main faces to stiffen the assembly without penalizing the pressure drop or the passage of the air flow. The heating compartment 6 comprises in addition to these uprights 18, three longitudinal walls 5 parallel to each other and among which are distinguished two side walls 20, 22 and an intermediate wall 24 disposed between these side walls 20, 22. The uprights 18 perpendicularly extend the two side walls 20, 22 from a respective transverse edge for connecting the side walls 20, 22 therebetween. Two separate housing units for receiving the heating modules are thus defined in the heating compartment 6. A first housing 26 is defined by the so-called upper lateral wall 20, the uprights 18 and the intermediate wall 24, while a second housing 28 is defined by the so-called lower side wall 22, the uprights 8 and the intermediate wall 24. In the example shown, it is possible to distinguish an upper side wall 20 and a lower side wall 22, the so-called upper side wall 20 being the supporting side wall of the bar 16, and the intermediate wall 24 is off-center in the vertical direction so that it is closer to the so-called upper side wall 20. As a result, as can be seen in the figures , the first housing 26 has a height in the vertical direction smaller than that of the second housing 28, and that the first housing 26 is sized to receive a first heating module 30 formed of two heat sinks 29, while the second housing 28 is sized to receive a second heating module 32 formed of three heat sinks 29. It is understood that this is given as an example and that the 25 height of the housings, in the vertical direction defined arbitrarily in the figures, could vary, in particular depending on the position of the intermediate wall 24, without going beyond the context of the invention. The number of heat sinks 29 forming the heating module (s) 30, 32, a number here equal to five as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 and 4, could thus also be modified.

The intermediate wall 24 has guide flanges 34 which project vertically, partially along the intermediate wall 24, on each transverse side thereof, to facilitate the translational guidance of the heating modules 30, 32. in the housings 26, 28 defined in the heating compartment 5, during the sliding insertion thereof. It is understood that the side walls 20, 22 advantageously comprise equivalent guide edges. The intermediate wall 24 further comprises an elastically deformable blade 36, made in particular by partial punching of a portion of the wall, so that it is articulated to the intermediate wall 24 at a first longitudinal end and that it has on the opposite a free end which extends, in the rest position of the blade 36, projecting from the plane defined by the intermediate wall 24, in the second housing 28. The blade 36 is shaped so that this end Figure 1 shows that the free end has a projection 38 projecting from the plane of the blade 36 in the direction of the approximation of the free end. plane of the intermediate wall 24, so that when the blade 36 is constrained to be in the plane defined by the intermediate wall 24, the boss 38 is located in the first housing 26.

It will be understood that the side walls 20 and 22 may comprise an elastically deformable blade which extends in one or other of the housings 26, 28 to perform the same function of holding the heating modules 30, 32 in the housing . In FIG. 3, resiliently deformable latching fingers 40 are shown at the distal ends 42, i.e. the ends facing the second connection interface 12, of the side walls 20. , 22 and the intermediate wall 24. Each latching finger 40 is made to extend in vertical projection of the wall that it extends, the fingers 40 carried by the side walls 20 and 22 projecting to the intermediate wall 24 while this intermediate wall 24 has a latching finger 40 extending vertically as well to the upper side wall 20 as to the lower side wall 22. The latching finger 40 has a face 44, facing the second connection interface 12, which is inclined with respect to the vertical and an inner face, turned towards the inside of the heating compartment 6, which is substantially straight to form a relief stop for the heating modules 30, 32 when they are inserted in the heating compartment 6 of the device. It is understood that such shapes of the fingers facilitate the spacing of the fingers 40 during the passage of the heating modules 30, 32 to the inside of the heating compartment 6 and that they block these heating modules 30, 32 inside the this one when in position. As described above, the heating compartment 6 is integral with the first connection interface 8, which has a dual function, namely an electrical connection function to allow the connection of the heating modules to a source of electrical energy and a mechanical function for sealing the opening of the duct of the ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning by which the heater is inserted. The first connection interface 8 comprises a first substantially flat plate 46, which extends perpendicularly to the walls of the heating compartment 6, and a sleeve 48 which extends longitudinally in projection from the first plate 46, opposite the heating compartment 6 of the heating compartment 2. The mechanical fixing means associated with the first connection interface 8 are carried by the first plate 46 which has at its vertical ends 50 fixing lugs 52 (visible in FIG. 2) in which fixing holes 54 allow the cooperation of screwing means with threaded means, not shown here, integral with the duct of the ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning, for the mechanical fixing of the additional heating device 30 2 relative to the duct. It is understood that other mechanical fixing means may be implemented without departing from the context of the invention, by welding, clinching or gluing, for example. Furthermore, the first plate 46 has on its inner face 56, facing towards the heating compartment 6 of the heating compartment 6, a peripheral groove 58 (visible in FIG. 2) in which a seal can be positioned so as to ensure the airtightness between the interior of the air-conditioning installation where the heating compartment 6 of the device extends and the outside of the installation where the first plate 46 extends and in particular the sleeve 48.

The first interface 8 has slots 60 (visible in FIG. 2) which extend from the inner face 56 of the first plate 46, turned towards the heating compartment 6, to the outer face 62 carrying the sleeve 48. slots 60 open into the sleeve 48, the dimensions of which are adapted to allow reception in this sleeve 48 of electrical connection means 15 sources, that is to say means directly connected to the vehicle network. FIG. 3 shows the free end of electrical connection terminals 64, opening slots inside the sleeve 48, which are able to cooperate with the source electrical connection means when they are fitted into the sheath. 48. The electrical connection terminals 64 are, according to the invention, made integral with the electrodes 66 of the heating modules 4, as will be described hereinafter, and they pass through the slots 60 (visible in FIG. 2). to enable the heating modules 4 arranged on the other side of this first interface 8 to be connected with connecting means arranged on one side of the first connection interface 8. It is understood, in particular by the illustration of FIG. 3, the slots 60 have a defined section for receiving and guiding through the first interface 8 these electrical connection terminals 64, so that they can on the one hand be integral with the islands in the heating compartment 6 and that they can also extend into the sleeve 48 projecting from the outer face 62 of the first plate 46.

In the illustrated embodiment, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 to 6, an electrical terminal 64 for connecting the vehicle electrical harness is disposed on the free end of each of the electrodes 66 extending the heating modules 4 to 6. a proximal end 67. The terminal 64 has an attachment portion 68 to the electrode 66 and a connecting portion 69 formed by a tab 70 which extends in the extension of the electrode 66. The attachment portion 68 takes the shape of a sleeve of width slightly greater than the width of the electrode 66 (visible in FIG. 6), so as to be able to surround the associated electrode 66 and be made integral with it by welding or crimping by example, or by clinching or gluing. It will further be understood that the fixing portion 68 could, without departing from the context of the invention, not completely surround the electrode 66 and overlap on one or other of the faces of the electrode 66, for welding or gluing for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve shape is obtained by folding on itself of the fastening portion, leaving a space between the upper wall 72 of the sleeve extending in the plane of the connecting portion and the lower wall 74 of the sleeve folded under the bottom wall. The terminal 64 is welded, or crimped, glued or clinched by way of example, on the free end of the electrode 66 at this folded lower wall 74 of the sleeve, the figures illustrating the initiation points of the sleeve. crimping 76 on this lower wall 74. The connecting portion is connected to the fixing portion by a throttling portion 78, and it comprises immediately after this throttling portion 78 two fins 80 which extend on each side of the a radially projecting connecting portion so as to form a shoulder abutment to the longitudinal displacement of the terminal, and which carries the tongue 70. At the junction of the fins 80 and the tongue 70, notches 82 forming a reduction in width are provided. tongue 70 at its base. The tongue 70 here has a substantially rectangular cross-section of complementary shape to that of the insertion slots 60 made in the first interface 8. It can be seen, in particular in FIG. 7, that the free end 71 of this tongue 70 has a slight bevel, especially to facilitate its insertion into the slot 60 corresponding. The tongue 70 also comprises a snap-fastening element with elastic deformation, produced by a blade 84 articulated at one of its ends on the tongue 70, about an axis transverse to the tongue 70. The blade 84 is shaped, for example by punching, to take a rest position in which its free end 86 extends projecting from the longitudinal and transverse plane defined by the tongue 70. It can be seen that the blade 84 is arranged so that its free end is positioned behind its articulated end the tab 70, that is to say that the free end is closer to the fixing portion of the terminal 64. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection terminals 64 are worn by the electrodes 66 and the slots 60 made in the first interface 8 open on each side of the first plate 46 so that the terminals 64, in engagement with the electrodes 66 on the the inner face 56 of the first plate 46, can pass through the first connection interface 8 and be in engagement with the electrical connection means connected to the vehicle electrical network on the side of the outer face 62 of the first plate 46.

It will be understood that the first connection interface 8 comprises insertion slots 60 whose cross-section is complementary to that of the tabs 70 of the terminals 64. Moreover, the first connection interface 8 advantageously comprises housing 88 cooperating with the elements in this way, the snap-fastening elements 84 with elastic deformation are able to pass from a retracted position during the insertion of the free end portion of the terminal 64 into the corresponding slot 60 of the first connection interface 8 and a deployed position in the corresponding housing 88 when the heating module 4 is in position with respect to the heating compartment 6 and the first connection interface 8.

In FIG. 8 there are illustrated two insertion slots 60 seen from the outer face 62 of the first connection interface 8. A receiving housing 88 of a detent element 84 is formed in the vicinity of each of the insertion slots 60, here vertically under these slots 60. The housing 86 is hollowed out in the thickness of the first connection interface 8, from the outer face thereof, and thus takes a cavity-like shape open on the corresponding insertion slot 60. The cavity forming the housing 88 is defined vertically opposite the slot 60 by a bottom wall 90 delimited transversely by two side walls 92 spaced apart by a width substantially equal to the width of the blade forming the element. snap 84, and it is delimited longitudinally on the side of the inner face 56 of the first connection interface 8 by a vertical wall 94 while it is open and opens on the other side on the outer face 62 of the first interface connection 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates the cooperation of the detent element 84 and the housing 88 when the heating module 4 is in its final position in the heating compartment 6. During the insertion of the tongue 70 of FIG. terminal 64 in the slot 60, the free end 86 of the detent element 84, behind the articulated end, is brought into the plane of the tongue 70, in a retracted position, under the effect of the vertical stress exerted by the walls defining the slot 60. When the heating module 4 is in its desired final position relative to the heating compartment 6, the tongue 70 is inserted into the slot 60 at most, the fins 80 forming against the face In this final position, the blade of the detent element 84 is arranged at the right of the housing 88 arranged on the path of the slot 60. The blade 84 The tongue 70 is then immobilized longitudinally in one direction by the stop of the fins 80 against the first connection interface 8, and in the other direction by the abutment of the free end 86 of the snap elements 84 against the vertical wall 94 of the housing 88. It is understood that if a heating module 4 were to be disengaged from the first connection interface 8, A tool should be used to constrain the detent element 84 to take its retracted position, by accessing the housing from the side of the outer face 62 of the first connection interface 8. The second interface 12 comprises a second plate 96 which extends transversely to the longitudinal walls of the heating compartment 6, and substantially parallel to the first plate 46 of the first connection interface 8, e it further comprises a guide tab 98 disposed at a vertical end of the second plate 96. The second plate 96 has a solid portion 100 at the end opposite the guide tab 98, for the support of the strip 16 and it has a central part provided with an opening 102 giving access to the two housings 26 and 28 inside the heating compartment 6. It is important that the opening made in the second plate 96 has a height, in the vertical direction from the guide tab 98 to the solid part 100, at least equal to the height, in this same direction, of the housings formed in the heating compartment 6, to allow the insertion of the heating modules 4 into the compartment 6 by this opening 102, opposite to the first connection interface 8.

We will now describe the mounting of the additional heating device 2, and in particular the cooperation of the electrical connection terminals 64 and the slots 60 of the first connection interface 8 when the heating modules 4 are mounted in the heating compartment 6. first of all performs the crimping, welding, clinching or welding of the terminals 64 on the electrodes 66. The sleeve is arranged around the free end of the electrode 66, being pressed until the free end of the electrode 66 abuts the bottom of the sleeve. In this abutment position, the terminal 64 is made integral with the electrode 66.

303 2 3 89 22 The heating modules 4 are then inserted in the appropriate housings 26 and 28 inside the heating compartment 6. For this purpose, the heating modules 4 are inserted according to the invention 4 through the opening 102 formed in FIG. second connection interface 12, the connection terminals 64 first, and the heating modules 4 are slid in translation towards the first connection interface 8. In passing, the walls of the heating modules 4 push the latching fingers 40 towards outside the housing that these heating modules 4 come to occupy. The insertion of the second heating module 32 in the second housing 28 causes the displacement of the elastic blade 36 in the plane of the intermediate wall 24, and the boss 38 of the free end of the blade 36 pushes the first heating module 30 in the first housing 26 against the so-called upper side wall 20. At the end of insertion, the tongue 70 of each terminal 64 enters the slot 60 associated with it so as to emerge on the other side of the first connection interface 8, inside the sleeve 48.

The latching elements 84 carried by each terminal 64 take a locking position in the corresponding housings 88 made in the first connection interface 8 and this freezes the position of the heating modules 4. In this position, the distal end wall heating modules 4, that is to say one facing the second connection interface 12, is blocked by the latching fingers 40 which have resumed their original position by elastic return when the walls of the heating modules 4 no longer constrained them vertically. This ensures a plating of the heating modules 4 against the first connection interface 8 and the correct position of the connection terminals 64 so that they sufficiently exceed the side of the external face of the first connection interface 8 and that they can be correctly connected to the source electrical connection means. And it should be noted that this longitudinal force is provided on the heating modules 4 without the addition of springs arranged between the second connection interface 12 and the heating modules 4. The distal end of these heating modules 4 extends substantially to the right of the inner face of the second connection interface 12, so that the longitudinal dimension of the additional heating device 2 for heating modules 2 of a given length is improved. It will be understood that 303 23 89 23 the reverse, for a given longitudinal dimension of the additional heating device 2, which must adapt to the dimensions of the duct of the ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning in which he is accommodated, it will be possible to increase the length of the heating modules 4 since no clearance is required between the second connection interface 12 and the distal end of the heating modules 4. This longitudinal space saving to enlarge the longitudinal span of the modules 4 is also achieved by covering the free end of the electrode 66 by the connection terminal 64. The clearance required between the first connection interface 8 and the proximal end of the heating modules 4 is limited to the length the protruding end of the electrode 66, and it is no longer necessary to provide additional clearance to arrange connecting brackets protruding The additional heating device 2 of the heating device is then inserted into a duct of the heating-ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, by initial insertion of the second connection interface 12 into the heating circuit. an opening made in this conduit. The guiding means carried by the second connection interface 12 are made to cooperate with complementary guiding means carried by the duct, in order to bring the second connection interface 12 and the first connection interface 8 respectively against fixing means carried by the conduit. The first connection interface 8 is secured to the conduit by screwing, while the second connection interface 12 is pressed against the wall of the conduit, locked in position by indexing lugs arranged projecting from this wall. It may be provided that the second connection interface 12 is advantageously forcibly fitted into or around a sleeve complementary to the female form of the opening of the second connection interface 12. In this way, it is notable that the second Connection interface 12 allows on the one hand the holding of the heating modules 4 in the additional heating device 2 and on the other hand the positioning of the additional heating device 2 in the duct of the installation.

The ends of the connection terminals, that is to say the tabs 70 projecting from the outer face of the first connection interface 8 to the center of the sleeve 48, are then connected to the vehicle electrical network. The control of the additional heating device is, in the illustrated case, located elsewhere on the vehicle, for example in an electronic cockpit computer. However, one could consider integrating a control module in and / or on the first connection interface. The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives that it has set itself, and in particular to propose an electric heating device 10 that can be arranged across a duct of a heating installation. ventilation, heating and / or air-conditioning of a motor vehicle, to enable the diffusion of heat by electrical excitation of heating modules carried by or housed in an additional heating device, and in which the correct positioning of the connecting means is ensured; 15 electric heating modules with an electrical source of the vehicle. It has been particularly described an embodiment where the latching means to ensure this correct positioning were carried by connection terminals fitted on the free ends of the electrodes, but it will be understood that these latching means could be worn. by a part 20 distinct from the terminal, the electrical connection can then be performed as in the prior art by connection pins projecting from the first connection interface and coming into contact in the electrode heating compartment.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Additional electric heating device for heating a flow of air passing through including a duct, a ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle, in which a housing is able to carry heating modules ( 4) by diffusion of heat under the effect of an electrical potential, said housing comprising at least one heating compartment (6) allowing the reception of at least one heating module (4) extending longitudinally and a first interface of connection (8) which allows the connection of the at least one heating module (4) to a source power source of the vehicle, each heating module (4) being extended longitudinally by an electrode free end (66) adapted to be connected to said electrical source in the vicinity of said first connection interface (8), characterized in that the first connection interface (8) has at least one housing (88) for receiving a connection means fastening (64) made integral with a heating module (4), said fixing means (64) comprising a detent element (84) with elastic deformation able to assume a retracted position during the insertion of the free end of the electrode (66) in the first connection interface (8) and a position deployed in said housing (88) when the heating module (4) is in position relative to the first connection interface (8). 2. Heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (88) is hollowed out in the thickness of the first connection interface (8) so that a wall of this interface (8) forms a wall (94) of the housing (88) abutting the release of the detent element (84) when it is in the extended position in the housing (88). 3. Heating device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening means (64) is attached to the free end of the electrode (66), and in that the housing (88) receiving means 3032389 26 (64) opens into a slot (60) for insertion of this free end of the electrode (66) into the first connection interface (8). 4. Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means (64) is formed by a free end portion (70) of an electrical connection terminal (64) which is directly connected to the free end of an electrode (66). 5. Heating device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electrical connection terminal (64) comprises a fixing portion (68) adapted to overlap the electrode free end (66), and a tab (70) forming said free end portion of the electrical connection terminal (64) adapted to be inserted into an insertion slot (60) of the first connection interface (8). 6. Heating device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing portion (68) of the terminal is secured to the free end of the electrode (66). 7. Heating device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the tongue (70) has a section of rectangular shape, complementary to the rectangular shape of the section of the corresponding insertion slot (60) made in the first connection interface 20 (8). 8. Heating device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the detent element (84) is carried by the tongue (70) in the form of an elastic deformation blade of which the free end (86) extends, in a rest position, projecting from the main plane defined by the tongue (70), the free end of the blade being positioned behind its end integral with the tongue (70). that is, closer to the attachment portion (68) of the terminal (64). 3032389 27 9. Heating device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the electrical connection terminal (64) passes through the first connection interface (8), the insertion slot (60) formed in the first interface (8) for this purpose opening on the one and the other of the faces of the first interface (8) perpendicular to the heating module (4). 10. Heating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing comprises a heating compartment (6) carrying the heating modules (4) and two connection interfaces (8, 12) arranged at the longitudinal ends of said compartment for heating (6), said housing being formed of a single piece, the heating modules (4) being inserted into the heating compartment (6) through an access opening (102) made in the second interface of connection (12) arranged opposite to the first connection interface (8) able to be traversed by at least one connection terminal and comprising the at least one receiving housing (88) of said detent element (84) . 11. Ventilation, heating and / or air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle having a heating device according to one of claims 1 to 10.